Remembering

George happens usually in the winter. He sat behind me in French class in high school. Cute, personable, funny without being obnoxious.

During a winter storm that year he was walking with a friend. A truck slid out of control. George pushed his friend to safety. He was killed.

Every now and then I say a quick prayer for his family. For even though it has been over 30 years, the death/life of a child/loved one is not forgotten by the family who loved them most.

It affected me a little differently though. On snowy nights, if everyone was not home, I would worry. Worry for the person who was walking home. Not wanting to ever walk in the snow myself on a busy road unless absolutely necessary.

Wednesday it was necessary. I had husband's car, he had mine (long story). At 12:30 the sleet came down so fast and furious that I knew the car would not make it home so I got a ride with a coworker. Her check engine light came on (she didn't seem as concerned as I was) so I had her drop me off a mile from home. And I started to walk. The road can be busy and is twisty turny - with a couple of not so gentle slopes. No shoulder to walk on. As I walked I thought of George and realized that I was doing fine. If a car came I paid attention and stood in driveways/dead grass. No panic here.

Then a car came up and a woman yelled out. "Want a ride?" I almost said no but she looked so earnestly at me that I said sure and got in for the rest of the way home.

I really should be

working on my vacation photos. I have been to work, gone grocery shopping and cleaned up some rooms. But I am tired and will probably go to bed soon after dinner.
On the trip I met two younger women who traveled as much as possible - saving up money after each vacation to travel again. I find the philosophy interesting. But I am too tired to think of future trips. What I did think was interesting - I love city noises. S1 likes quiet places. I liked the rhythm of Honolulu as it was waking up about 4 am. I like the evening sounds of the neighbor children playing, smells of various dinners cooking, the sounds of the evening tv on.

When I come back from a trip I am healthier, wiser and happier. Good reasons to travel I think.

Hawaii - The Last Day

So tomorrow I go home. Back to the mainland where it looks like on Tuesday I will be shoveling. But today it was time to go to the zoo. Honolulu is very 60's in it's downtown architecture and it is still in the 60's in some of it's zoo exhibits. With that being said, it is the zoo of a small town. And Honolulu is a small town. Where S1 lives it is a small town. The grocery is local, there is a bakery, local bar, places to shop for needed and fanciful items. All within a 2 block radius. There is public transport. Cheap parking. Churches. Schools. It has a small town flavor.

But getting back to the zoo. The flowers are beautiful. An animal expert giving advice to a group of young school children. Mothers with season passes letting their little ones run.
After the zoo I went in the opposite direction to the arboreteum that is nestled at the end of the road, in the mountains in Manoa. The beginning of my tour was fine but it wasn't until I took a different path that I began to excited. Views that cannot be captured adequately by camera. Huge flowers. Limbs of trees that have roots hanging, trying to reach the ground.

Tonight S1 is cooking dinner - stuffed peppers. He is an imaginative cook. We went out today for shaved ice. It was pretty good - better than the bubble tea that I had yesterday. We went to the Blow Hole and watched the water come up while looking at Jupiter and stars. Then we went to Diamond Head and looked for more stars and took photos of the city there.

What I learned today -
1. Life is full of cool surprises.

Manoa Falls/Hawaii Day ?

The hike up to the falls was beautiful. The smells were divine. I wish that I could bottle them and share them with each of you.
The trees - I have not been in this much awe since I saw the Sequoia's when I was a teen. The different textures/the shape of the leaves and trunks. The HEIGHT!! I half expected Avatar people to come out:-).

What I learned today:
1. There is never a good hair day for me in Hawaii :-).
2. I may not make it to Diamond Head this trip and that is ok. I am finding other places higher on my list to do.
3. Thrifting in Honolulu is pretty good and prices are much lower than at home.
4. One man's trash is another man's treasure. We brought home another desk for S1 from a trash pile down the street. People put their unwanted items out 1 day per month and if they are good someone will take them. I tease my son that the people take the item, use the item and then put it back out for someone else and the cycle continues until the item eventually falls apart. Actually it is a good system.
5. Almost every park seems to have a squatter or 2 in it. For someone likes me who seems to attract interesting people I would have to say that it has been no problem. Even when I walked the 4 mile round trip from here to downtown.
6. It reminds me of LA here but more humid. A lot more humid.
7. When the wind blows through a stand of bamboo the sound produced is magical.

Hawaii Day 4

So today I went to Hanauma Bay. A beautiful beach that is owned and run by the University of Hawaii. Well worth a visit.
Leonard's Bakery was my breakfast option.

What I learned today
1. I need to take Dramamine before I go snorkeling. Enough said.
2. I went at low tide which was perfect as I am not that great of a swimmer.
3. I had forgotten that salt water makes you float. Yipee!
4. I saw 4 fish in 15 minutes before my head just could not take any more. Most people saw a lot more. One man saw an eel.
5. I like pineapple ice cream.

Hawaii Day 3

I had planned on going snorkeling today but that place was closed so I hiked a nearby mountain instead. Gorgeous views of a lighthouse and whales! Coming back down the path I heard a huge release of air so I looked in the water and there was the backside of a whale going into the water. Saw others also. Had mahi mahi for lunch (white fish) while sitting at a beach that had a lot of volcanic rock. Came back to the apartment and decided to walk downtown when S1 was in class. Saw the palace and statue.

What I learned today.
1. The noise made from the blow of a whale is quite loud.
2. i probably should have driven to see the palace and statue. A reminder to self - when you walk 2 miles to a destination you have to walk those 2 miles back.
3. S1 is a great cook and coffee maker. He also can find good restaurants/coffee houses.
4. Cactus grows here